Switzerland’s labour market weakened further at the start of 2026. The unemployment rate rose to 3.2% in January, up 0.1 percentage points from December, marking a second consecutive monthly increase after stagnating in November, according to data released by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The number of people registered with regional employment offices […]
FILM: NUREMBERG ***
30 January 2026 NUREMBERG *** This film shows one of the first and most important of the 12 Nuremberg Military Tribunals after WWII. Important, as the trial it covers had some of the top men in Hitler’s inner circle. It included Rudolf Hess, Karl Dönitz and of course the notorious Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, second-in-command to […]
Upcoming Swiss votes: one tight race, three clearer outcomes
With four federal proposals heading to a vote on March 8th, opinion polls suggest one contest remains finely balanced, while voters appear to have made up their minds on the other three. According to a mid-January survey commissioned by SRG, the initiative targeting the public broadcaster is deadlocked. By contrast, individual taxation commands broad support, […]
How some Swiss struggle to integrate in Switzerland
Internal migration across Switzerland’s linguistic borders sometimes tests local integration. In the canton of Fribourg, growing numbers of French-speakers are settling in German-speaking municipalities, drawn by cheaper housing and proximity to the canton’s capital. The shift is quietly reshaping local administration, schools and civic life, reports SRF. In villages such as Giffers and Tentlingen, construction […]
Swiss party seeks cap on primary school pupils not speaking language of instruction
Switzerland’s largest party, the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), wants to curb the number of pupils in primary school classes who do not speak the language of instruction, arguing that rising immigration is undermining primary education, reported SRF. Meeting in Näfels in the canton of Glarus, party delegates approved a set of demands billed as an […]
Swiss exports reach a record high in 2025
Swiss exports hit a new high in 2025, buoyed by strong demand for chemicals and pharmaceuticals, despite a tariff dispute with the United States under Donald Trump. Exports rose by 1.4% to CHF 287bn, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security. Shipments to the United States increased by 3.9% to CHF 54.7bn, […]
Swiss government plans VAT hike for military spending
Switzerland’s government plans to raise value-added tax (VAT) temporarily to finance a substantial increase in military and security spending. The Federal Council wants to raise an additional CHF 31bn over ten years through a 0.8-percentage-point increase in VAT. A detailed proposal is due in March. According to the defence minister, Switzerland is ill-prepared for an […]
Swiss railways set a new punctuality record
Switzerland’s state railway, Swiss Federal Railways, reported its best punctuality on record in 2025, with only 1 in 17 trains (5.9%) arriving late, down from 6.8% in 2024. In 2025, an average Swiss train commuter making the daily trip to and from work would have arrived late only 28 times across the year. Overall, 94.1% […]
Italy recalls ambassador after Swiss court frees Constellation bar owner
Italy has recalled its ambassador to Switzerland for consultations after a Swiss court released the owner of a bar destroyed by a fatal fire in the resort of Crans-Montana. Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, said on Saturday that she was indignant at the decision to free Jacques Moretti, who is suspected of responsibility for the […]
Fire safety inspectors’ training varies sharply across Switzerland
The deadly fire in Crans-Montana has exposed wide disparities in how Switzerland’s cantons train those responsible for enforcing fire-safety rules. In the wake of the tragedy, the canton of Valais has acknowledged that the knowledge of communal safety officers is not always adequate and says it wants to strengthen training. The problem is structural. Although […]
